REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Soccer team (11-2-3, 8-1-2 SCIAC) hosted Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) on Senior Day and Homecoming Saturday afternoon with the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Regular Season title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SCIAC Tournament on the line. It was back and forth throughout with the first half being scoreless before a combined six goals were added in the second half four of which came from the Bulldogs as they would prevail 4-2 clinching the title.
Prior to the game the Bulldogs honored their seniors Owen Jamieson (Danville, CA), Erik Davies (Snoqualmie, WA), Cody Bell (Highland, CA), Phillip Kostenko (Redmond, WA), and Ryan Brown (Novato, CA).
The two sides were scoreless in the first half, but in the second half the opportunities started to come as the Stags were the first to strike in the 51st minute coming on a header finish near post following a cross from the left wing.
Two minutes later Anders Beckton (Seattle, WA) scored his fifth of the season as Landon Azavedo (Portland, OR) slipped a ball through to Beckton in the box for the equalizer.
The Stags then made it three goals in seven minutes as they reclaimed the lead on a shot that rolled through the defense finding the far corner.
CMS would give away the equalizer as their keeper attempted a clearance that went right to Bell who took a couple of touches inside before finding the oncoming Beckton who finished it off.
In the 86th the game-winner would come as Kostenko went across the face of goal for his 11th of the season after Beckton found him from the left side of the penalty area.
Kostenko would make it a brace as he took advantage of another Stag mistake in the 89th. Beckton won a one-on-one on the right sideline and found Kostenko making an unimpeded run after the turnover from CMS left only two players back on defense. Kostenko dribbled the ball just outside the box and forced the keeper to come out as the final player. He then chipped it over the keeper into the open goal to seal the three points and the SCIAC Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SCIAC Tournament.
Redlands out shot Claremont-M-S 17-13 with seven shots on goal but were at a disadvantage on corner kicks 6-1. Brady Bachman (San Diego, CA) played all 90:00 minutes finishing with three saves, Kostenko with four shots and two goals and Beckton with five shots, two goals and two assists.
The Bulldogs will have an off day on Wednesday before finishing the regular season at Whittier College next Saturday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m.
